Displays and Job hunting

To keep up with my initial idea to write about my adventures in libraries and information technology, I suppose I should update my status.

Presently, I'm working at the public library with a new display assignment: Fun Fiction.
This will be displayed in the main hallway where everyone will see it.  I usually go for more information-based displays with text printouts.  I did one previously that was visually-based and it was a success, so I'm trying that with this one as well.  I will have a bunch of books have a party and they will have googly eyes and pipecleaner arms and legs.  I will post pictures to see how this all goes down.

In other news, as much as I like my public library gig, it's part-time, and I'm feeling the need to stretch my legs and get some more hours.  To do this, I am applying to jobs all over Canada.  A few out in BC went unanswered, as did a few sent to Calgary, Alberta.  I did fire some resumes out at libraries around Ontario, and only one of them stuck.  The University of Toronto has a 6-month project going on where I'd be a Data Analyst.  Sounds sexy, eh?  Well, they called me in for an interview, so we'll see what happens there.  I'm feeling rather indifferent to the whole thing.  If it happens, it happens.  It's not a true library job (more like data entry with an edge) so I don't know how much practical experience I'll get there.
I'm just feeling so disillusioned with the whole job market... guess I'll join the club, eh?

It's just a matter of me weighing the pay and length of employment vs. the distance I'd have to travel and whether or not I'd have to move to the place.  I like my parents, so I'd like to stay relatively close, but if there's a 1-year contract out in England, I might jump on it, just for the sake of the experience.

Anybody want to hire a library tech?  I promise not to let you down ^_^

Recycling Display

So, shortly after the GN display I was given another.  This was another free-topic, so I decided to try and promote recycling in the community. 

I wanted to push three points:
- recycling programs in the community
- HOW to compost (some people don't know how to get started)
- safely disposing of hazardous household waste and electronic devices

I was cheap and used the same background that the previous display had been using, which is why the top looks so busy with all those earths and the bamboo background.  I was running late on putting this display together (I only had an hour and most of that time was spent removing the previous display).

I had a lot of information int his one, but I tried to keep it simple.  I made the text very large and easy to read, and kept it to point-form info so people could read it at a glance and come away with something environmentally friendly.

I suppose every display is an experiment in what works best.  I prefer displays that are out in the open and people can interact with.  I had one before (I didn't get a picture of it) that was promoting the adult non-fiction collection.  It was very simple; a table set up in the adult-non-fic section and I'd select interesting-looking non-fic books from the shelving carts to put out there.  It was surprising how quickly I needed to refill it, and I loved just watching people go to the reference desk, notice the table, and pick through the items on display.  I had 3 signs on it, and they were set up on bookends so they could be easily removed.  They advertised: "Sometimes Fact is better than Fiction" "Interesting Non-Fiction Reads" and "The Book you are looking for could be Right Here!"

I wish my library did more interactive displays.

Graphic Novel Display

I talked about his in January, but didn't get around to posting about it once I'd put up the display.  It stayed up for a good month or so before it had to come down.  Looking at it, I wish I'd chosen something different for the title of the display, but I suppose it's "comic-y" enough, and it stands out, which is the most important thing.

So, after some thought I decided to be selfish and promote the graphic novel display.  I quizzed a few people around work to find out what they thought of when they heard "Graphic Novel" and a lot of them had no idea.  Some thought they were simple comics, others didn't have an opinion.

Our GNs are stored in with the Non-Fiction collection, in with the Dewey Decimals around 741.5.  It's hard to find them, so I thought I'd let people know where they are.

I put up some notes that said, "Not just comic strips!" and the pulled some books from our collection to put in there.  The biggest problem I had with the display was my choice of backdrop.  I thought that material would be easier to tape to the case, eliminating the hassle of taping black tissue paper up there.

Well, material is heavier than regular paper.  As such, it was dragging down and I had to pin it into the cabinet so it wouldn't sag and look like crap.  It was left in there for a long time, and I even heard that some people were asking about GNs at the info desk, wondering if we could order more for them.  This was so encouraging for me.  I love promoting the collection!

Display fun

I was given a display assignment with an open topic. The cabinet is set in the basement with adult non-fiction, so I figured I should do it on some resource available down there.

I was considering promoting our collection of local history materials (my lib has a nice genealogy section) so I thought that would be nice. Unfortunately for that idea, the room is in use by library staff until March (they're digitizing our microfiche!), which is cool, but sorta poops on my idea.

So, I decided to pick something that interests me and promote out small (needing expansion but that's not my dept.) collection of graphic novels.

It's kinda fun, though I don't know if anyone will like/care about it.

I hope some patrons learn a little about GNs from my display, if nothing else. *fingers crossed*

Pictures to follow.

Projects - multi-lingual and bibliographies

My project to update the multilingual collection is falling a bit flat. The adult services librarian isn't getting back to me on a time I can meet with her to propose the signs I want to put up. I'm thinking of just leaving those signs out and going for it anyway! Well, we'll see how that goes. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who cares about that project. I want to learn more about the SOMP system, too. How we get new multi-lingual books in and whatnot.

Other than that, I've got it into my head to put together subject bibliographies for the Star Wars novels we have in our collection.  In looking for new SW series for my dear man, I've found it's difficult to navigate through our collection and all the many, many authors who have contributed to these series.

New computers + writing manuals

The library recently got a massive grant from the town, so we're using that to upgrade our computer systems. We're getting a RFID system! *dances* I learned about that in school, so it should be made of awesome.

In addition to that, we're also digitizing a lot of our collection (they won't tell us what that means, exactly, but they hired some people to do it, so I'll assume they know what they're doing). Also, we got a new program in place to sign patrons onto the computer! I was so excited when the lady came around to instruct us. I even volunteered to write a procedures manual for this new system. It's so cool, called PC Connect, and allows people on circulation to go in and see the status of every computer in the building. We can book time for patrons, log them off, extend their time, etc. It was very cool, and a great experience to write the manual for the circulation department.

After this, I volunteered to update the circ procedures manual, so I'm doing that right now. I've gone through the existing manual, noted the things that need to be changed for greater understandability, and even procedures that are missing (there were quite a few). I've gone over my proposed changes with my supervisor and she's okayed me to proceed with updating this!

I shouldn't be so excited to write procedures manuals, but I am. I even know that nobody in circ will look at the thing, but just in case they need to, it's there. It'll be great for new employees in the circ department, which will be very cool. I wish the manual had been up-to-date when I'd started. They try to teach you how to do things, but the instruction left me confused as so many different people do things their own way, and sometimes, 'their own way' isn't the correct or even proper way to do things.

Then again, I am a bit of an eccentric nerd who loves writing, so why wouldn't I approach this self-appointed/afflicted task with the same gusto that I approach a super-uber-chocolate sundae?

Display Success

Well, I put my display together to promote the non-fiction area of the collection. I put up a simple display in the case, but then pulled an unused table out and just stacked tons of interesting-looking non-fiction books on it.

The cool part: My display has since come down (the case is being used for other things) but the table remains!

It's awesome. I set out books, and then I see people going over and looking at the things that are on the table. I even set out a book, then I went back up to circulation and a man came up 10 minutes later with that same book that I'd set out!

I feel so proud, and yet, feel like nobody at work really cares. I don't expect fanfare or anything, but it's like me (and my displays/efforts) are invisible :(

Maybe I care too much...

New Display

The only real thing that takes some creativity in my current job is the creation of library displays.

I was just handed my new assignment: non-fiction books that are entertaining to read. (Not the exact words, but essentially what it is.)

I've already got some ideas for how the display will look, and I want to create some sort of bibliography, or at least call number ranges for people to check out. I don't think I can have handouts with this display, though... I'm going to have to talk to my supervisor.

Maybe I could post something on the inside of the glass that talks about the ranges where people can look. (This job would be a lot easier if the biographies were stored together instead of interspersed with the rest of the collection.)

I'll try to take some pictures to share once I've put it together. Due date: July 31

Intro post

As a recent graduate of Seneca College's Library and Information Technician program, and a rabid internet junkie, I am convinced this blog must exist.

Herein you may find my ramblings of my experiences. Only my experiences will be recorded, no gossip or any such rubbish. I am hoping this blog will serve two purposes:
- serve as a log of things I have done, should I need to refer back to them
- share my experiences with other library techs or librarians. Who knows, maybe what I have to say may be useful to others?

My final time at school was unkindly brutal on me. Not that the program is terrible (quite the contrary) but needless to say I was burnt out and feeling unequipped to face the world of libraries. I love helping people find information, but after the last roes of exams, I felt like crawling into a hole.

Of course, it has taken some months to recover. Now I'm feeling a bit braver and wanted to share my experiences.

I'm currently employed in a medium-sized public library in my hometown. I fill a position called Public Service Assistant which is a mix between circulation staff and receptionist. Apart from the usual duties associated with these two positions, I also:
- mend material
- receive orders
- process in-house publishing requests
- put together a seasonal best seller list
- create library displays
- direct patrons to their desired section in the library
- help patrons get set up on the computer
- etc.

It's a varied position and I'm happy to be involved at this level. I feel very lucky, but I am craving a bit more responsibility.

I may have the opportunity to shift the non-fic collection a bit. We currently inter-file biographies with the remainder of the collection. There is some discussion around separating biographies into their own section. If this occurs, I'm putting my hand up first to volunteer this job. I so badly want to do more.

Well, I will keep this short and end here. There are pictures of the library displays that I have assembled. I would like to share these pictures sometime, as well as possibly compile a resource for library techs to refer to when creating a library display. They are so hard to throw together sometimes. It's often nice to see what others have done for similar topics.